US2910221A - Crate - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1959 A. L. \INHITOQN CRATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 195a /e 7 [r2 V55 T7 far flrf/z ur L, Wfi/ fan in, 47 E g.

A. L. WHITON Oct. 27, 1959 CRATE I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1, 1958 reinforcing structure incorporated therein.

United States ate CRATE Arthur L. Whiton, Evanston, 111., assignor to Chicago Mill and Lumber Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application August 1, 1958, Serial No. 752,551 8 Claims; 01. 229-23) This invention relates generally to crates, and more specifically to an improved collapsible cratehaving a novel Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various crates, alparticularly useful appli{ cation is made in crates of the'drum type, and of the eral such crates are stacked on top of each other, there is a tendency for the crates to twist and collapse, or to crush.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide an improved crate which has somewhat greater resistance to crushing," and hence a greater stacking strength than has beenheretofore provided. I Furthermore, when crates are handled in the full condition, the vertical "corners thereof'are frequentlysubjected to blows. While corner stiffening, broadly speaking, is old, it is another object of the instant'invention to provide an improved novel stiffening or reinforcing means which will render the corners of the crate resistive to somewhat greater blows than could be applied heretofore without damage.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide crate reinforcement coupled with means for protecting the goods from scratching or damage such as might arise from contacting internal crate reinforcement.

Yet another object is to provide a crate which maybe stacked on top of other like crates, and which maybe picked up by a lift fork entering from any onebf the four sides of the crate to be lifted.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects.

Figure l is a perspective View of the crate of this invention in its assembled form;

Figure 2 is apl-an view, partiallybrokenaway, of the 1 wrap-around body portion forming the sidewalls of the crate; V r r Figure '3 is an' enlarged view taken along line III-+111 of Figure 2;

39, 40 are locatedon the inner surface of theflinermenr Figure 4 is a, plan viewof the platforin' assembly or I bottom portion of the crate;-

Figure 5 is a bottom orins'ide plan view assembly or top portion of the crate;

Figure 6 is an end elevational View of the tubular body member in its folded'form ready for shipment or storage;

of the cover ice Patented Oct. 27, 1959 Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a lower corner portion of the crate shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a crate such as shown in Figure 1 stacked on top of another crate such as shown inFigure l;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of crate incorporating the principles of this invention, and shown with the top flaps thereof open to expose the cover member thereof to view; and t Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view generally similar to Figure 7, showing a lower corner of the crate of Figure 9. I 1

As shown on the drawings:

T he principles of this invention are particularly useful whenembodied in a crate such as illustrated in Figure l,

generally indicated by the numeral 10. The crate includes a tubular body member 11 of rectangular configuration, a rectangular cover member or assembly 12, and a rectangular platform or platform assembly 13.

The tubular body member 11, as best seen in Figure 2, comprises paperboard, such as corrugated board, and is here shown to bermade of a single sheet of material, rectangular in form, and provided with eight verticalscore lines, such as indicated at 14, which lines 1-4 extend" for the height of the body member 11. The vertical score lines 14 define a series of side Walls or panels i5-1-a Between each adjacent pair of side Walls, such as 15, 1 6,

there is afcorner panel 19 which also extends for the, entire height of the tubular body memberll The corner panels 19 are thus defined by a pair of closely adjacent vertical score lines 14. A series of horizontal'scorelines 2tl23 together with a series of slits or cutouts 24 jointly define a series of flap panels 2532; severally disposed at the upper and'lower edges of the side walls 1545M, and integral therewith. The tubular bodyimember l1 aiso includes a side flap 33 which is integrally sefcuredto one of the vertical edges of the side wall 15 j of the corner panels, which in turn is integral with one As best seen between the side walls and d also'in Figure 3, each of the corner panels '19 provided'with a corner reinforcing means generally; indicated by the numeral 34. Each of the corner reinforcing f means 34 includes a pair of vertical cleats '35, 36, and a liner member of paperboard 37. The vertical cleats 35 and 36 extend substantially for they entire. height of the side walls 1518, the upper ends of the vertical cleats 35 and 36 being disposed adjacent to the score lines 20 and 21, while the lower ends of the cleats 35, 36, are disposed adjacent to the score lines22, 23 of the body member 11. The liner member 37'is provided with a series of score-lines 38-4-1 which extend yertically for the entire length of the liner member 37. The score lines 38 and 41 are disposed on the outer surface of the 'iner member 31 and are located to register with the confronting edges of'the cleats 35, 36'.v The score lines ber 37 and are spaced from the score lines li and 41 so as to provide an intermediatep'ortion 42 which is disposed adjacent to the corner. panel 19in parallel member 37 is secured at its outer. surface to the inwardlyf directed surfaces of the cleats 35, 36 arid is bonded there to, preferablyby gluing. Thus the inwardly directed surfaces of thecleats 3'5, 36 are covered and .are free of any me'tal which could scratch any structure which is disposed within the crate 101 The corner'reinforcing as; i

sembly 34 may be secured as a unit to the interior of the tubular body member 11 by any convenient means, and is disposed as shown in Figure 2, wherein the vertical cleats 35, 36 are secured to interior vertical'edge portions of the sidewalls 1518, slightly spaced from the corner panels 19. The slight spacing is at least twice the thickness of the member 37. When the body mern ber 11 is bent to a tubular form, the portion 42 buckles toward and against the adjacent corner panel 19, as best seen in Figures 6 and 7.

The flap panel 33 may now be directed toward the right hand edge of the sidewall 18, as shown, whereby the body member 11 takes ona generally tubular form such as shown in Figure 1. The tubular body member 11, of course, may be collapsed and stored in a flat condition for shipment, as best seen in Figure 6.

-' 'In this view, it is particularly apparent that the horizontal length of the cover panel 19 is no less than the combined thickness of the cleats 35, 36, plus twice the thickness of the liner member 37. Therefore, there is substantially no tendency on the art of the liner member 37 or on the part of the cleats 35, 36 to spring the adjacent side panels or walls apart. whereby the tubular body member 11 remains in a flat condition. On the other hand, when the collapsed bodvmember 11 is opened to a form such as shown in Figure 1. the attachment between the sidewalls and the cleats 35, 36 acts to fullv open the corner reinforcing means 34.

The rectangular platform assembly 13 includes at least two exposed parallel s aced skid members 42 on top of which there isdisnosed a closing member 43 such as of corrugated board. On to of the member 43 there is disposed a pa r of slats 44. The slats 44 are secured at each end to the skid members 42 b any convenient means. thereby also securing the cl sing member 43 therebetween.- The closing member 433s provided with extensi ns on each side thereof. each of wh ch has a pair of score lines. such extensions thereby eachcomprising a cl sin flan 45 wh ch interlocks at assembly with one of the flaps 29-32 At each of the corners of the platform assembly 13, the slats 44 are angularlv cut ofi in a manner corres onding to the angle formed'by the corner panels 19. More si nificantly. however. t ere is provided a verticallv extending surface, such as 46 and 47 which is engageable with the liner member 37 at the lower end of the cleats 35, 36. in a manner, wherein the slat 44 op oses inward movement of one of the cleats in a first direction, and op oses movement of the other cleat in a direction at right angles thereto. A similar structure is provided at each of the four corners of the platform 13.

Referring to Figure 5, itwill be seen that a similar structure is provided for the cover member 12, except that lighter weight members may be employed. and a brace or a skid may be omitted. The cover 12 includes a pair of upwardly directed exposed parallelspaced skid members 48, 48 on which there is disposed a cover member 49, against which there is disposed a pair of interior slats 50, 50. The slats 59 are secured to the skid members 48 in any convenient manner, and thereby secure the cover member 49 also therebetween. The cover member 49 is likewise provided with a pluralit of closing flaps 51 which have score lines which enables the flaps 51 to interlock with one of the body member flaps 25-28. It is to be noted that the skid members 42, 42 of the base are at right angles to the skid ms hers 48, 48 of the cover assembly 12, one having the skids extending the short direction of the rectangular shape, while the other having the skids extending the long direction of the rectangular shape. The slats Sillikewise are provided with vertically extending external surfaces 52. 53 at each corner thereof.

To assemble the crate, the platform 13 is first disposed as shown in Figure 4 and the tubular body member 11 is opened to fit on the platform 13. Of course, any

structure which is to be crated is preferably first secured to the slats 44. The cover assembly 12 as shown in Figure 5 is then inverted so that the slats 50 extend into the tubular body member 11. The various flaps 45 and 51 are then interfolded with one of the flaps 25-32 of the body member and a steel band 54 is secured thereabout.

Once the carton is so closed, a relationship between the various parts exists such as shown in Figure 7. It will be seen that the cleats-35, 36 extend to the platform 13 and are supported in endwise relation by it, and more specifically are supportedby one of the skids 42. Further, the lower end of the cleats 35, 36 is backed up by the vertically extending surfaces 46, 47 which oppose inward movement of either of the cleats. Thus a blow given to the crates at a corner thereof is positively opposed. Usually, such blows will be generally normal to the surface, whereby a positive resistance to yielding is provided. Further, even though one of the cleats should deflect under the force of such a blow, its interior surface being fully covered by the liner 37 cannot damage the structure in the crate. Since the skids 48 of the cover are at right angles to the skids 44 of the base, crates 10 may be stacked on top of each other as shown in Figure 8 with a space left at each one of the exposed surfaces for the fingers of a fork lift truck to enter. This feature enables a stack ,of crates to be unstacked from any one of the sides.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, it can be seen that the principles of this invention can be incorporated into other crates constructed in slightly modified forms.

In Figure 9, the crate 60 includes a tubular body member 61 having sidewalls 6265 between each of which is disposed at corner panel 66. A cover member 67 includes twopairs of crossed slats 68, 69. The cover member 67 is similar torthe cover shown .in Figure 5, except thatthe paper member 49 has been omitted and the tubular body member 61 has been provided-with larger inwardly folding flaps 70. Thus when the flaps 70 are closed, the cover. member 67 is disposed entirely within the crate.

The tubular member 61 is provided with cover rein: forcing means 34 such as shown in Figure 3 and with vertical score lines such as shown in Figure 2.

A rectangular platform assembly 71 includes crossed slats 72, 73, which are generally similar to the slat and skid members shown in Figure 4, but wherein the base member'43 has been omitted, and suitable surrounding flaps integral with the tubular body member 61 have been provided.

As best seen in Figure 10, it will be noted that a substantially identical corner is provided, except that a flap extends under the slat 73 instead of over it as in Figure 7. As in the case of the other embodiment, a similar structure is present at each of the eight corners of the crate.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such embodimentsas -rea sonably and properly come within the scope of my conplatform for fastening to the bottom of the structure; a

tubular body member of paperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediate each of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular body member; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one of said side walls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, and extending substantially the full length of said body member so that they are supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the cover member at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said corner panels, each of said liner members being secured to said cleats and covering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats.

2. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform for fastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member of paperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediate each of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular body member; a vertical cleat secured to each interior vertical edge portion of said side walls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, and extending substantially the full length of said body member so that they are supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the cover member at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said corner panels, each of said liner members being secured to a pair of said cleats at one of said corner panels and covering the inwardly directed surface of each of said pair of cleats.

3. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform for fastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member of paperboard including four side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular body member; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one of said side walls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, and extending substantially the full length of said body member so that they are supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the cover member at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said corner panels, each of said liner members being secured to at least one of said cleats and covering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats, said liner members each having a portion disposed parallel to and in engagement with one of said corner panels.

4. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform for fastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member of paperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediate each of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular body memher; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one of said side walls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, and extending substantially the full length of said body member so that they are supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the cover member at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said corner panels, each of said liner members being secured to said cleats and covering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats; said platform and said cover member each having a vertically extending surface abutting the inner surface of each of said liner members adjacent to the ends of said cleats.

5. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform for fastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member of paperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediate each of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular body memher; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one of said side walls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, and extending substantially the full length of said body member so that they are supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the cover member at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said corner panels, each of said liner members being secured to said cleats and covering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats; said platform and said cover member each being adapted to oppose inward movement of one cleat at a corner, and to oppose similar movement at right angles to said inward movement by a second cleat at said corner.

6. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform for fastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member of paperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediate each of said side Walls; a cover member overlying the tubular body member; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one of said side Walls adjacent to one of said corner panels, and extending substantially the full length of said body member so that they are supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the cover member at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said corner panels, each of said liner members being secured to said cleats and covering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats; two non-adjacent corner panels each having a. horizontal length no less than the combined thicknesses of said cleats at said corner plus twice the thickness of said liner member, and the cleats at said two corner panels each being spaced from the adjacent edge of the supporting side wall by at least twice the thickness of said liner member.

7. In a crate for a structure having a rectangular platform for fastening to the bottom of the structure, a tubular body member of paperboard, said member having a series of vertical score lines defining four vertical side panels and a vertical corner panel intermediate each of said side panels, and a cover member overlying the tubular body member, the improvement of a corner reinforcing means, said means comprising: a pair of parallel spaced cleats; and a liner member bonded to one side of each of said cleats, and having a portion extending intermediate said cleats; the other side of each said cleats being secured to a pair of the side panels with said intermediate liner portion adapted to be disposed in backing relation against the intermediate corner panel, said cleats extending substantially the full length of the body member so that they may engage the platform at their lower ends and the cover member at their upper ends.

8. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform for fastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member of paperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediate each of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular body member; a vertical cleat secured to each interior vertical edge portion of said side walls adjacent to one of said corner panels, and extending substantially the full length of said body member so that they are supported by the platform at their'lower ends and support the cover member at their upper ends; and a liner member of paperboard at each of said corner panels, each of said liner members being secured to and covering the inwardly directed surface of each of a pair of said cleats at one of said corner panels, said liner members each having a portion adapted to, be disposed parallel to and in engagement with one of said corner panels; two non-adjacent corner panels each having a horizontal length no less than the combined thicknesses of said cleats at said corner plus twice the thickness of said liner member, and the cleats at said two corner panels each being spaced from the adjacent edge of the supporting side wall by at least twice the thickness of said liner member; said platform and said cover member each having a vertically extending surface abutting the inner surface of each of said liner members adjacent to the ends of said cleats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images